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Connected by a common thread: UNITY project illustrates beauty of diverse community

The University of North Carolina School of the Arts will participate in the UNITY
project, a temporary interactive art installation which seeks to counteract divisiveness,
negativity and bigotry. Students, faculty and staff have been invited to help create
the installation on Wednesday through Friday, Oct. 17-19, on the lawn adjacent to
Hanes Student Commons. The installation will remain in place for public viewing for several weeks.

“As the arts conservatory for the 21st century, we are empowering the next generation of creative storytellers to embrace
diversity and inclusiveness,” said Vice Provost and Dean of Student Affairs Ward Caldwell. “We believe that artists in particular can change the tone of our political conversation
by celebrating our differences, exploring our connections and appreciating how we
impact each other.”

The UNITY project in process at UNCSA / Photo: Ojas Jain

UNCSA’s version of UNITY is a large circular arrangement of 32 poles with a center
starting block. Each pole is labeled with an identifier. For example, “I speak more
than one language,” or “I identify as LGBTQ.” The center block represents “I am an
artist.” With colored yarn, participants begin at the center block then tie to each
pole with which they identify. A canopy of interconnectedness forms as more people
participate.

“In the end, we see that we are all connected,” said Joanne Moore, who teaches producing in the School of Filmmaking and proposed the project at UNCSA.
“UNITY is a visual manifestation of how each unique individual contributes to the
whole community and how we can create something beautiful together.”

With today’s political rhetoric, it’s important to remind ourselves that our differences
are to be celebrated.

Nancy Belmont, creator of UNITY project

UNITY was conceived by Nancy Belmont, CEO and Chief Inspiration Officer at Vessence
Corporation. In 2015 she launched another project, the Courage Wall, as a way to
raise awareness of the fears that hold us back from living big, bold authentic lives.
She launched UNITY project in 2016 in Alexandria, Va. The Courage Wall and UNITY
are both projects that fall under her #WeLiveBig initiative to promote human flourishing.

“UNITY challenges the idea that just because we are different, we are separate,”
Belmont said when the project was introduced. “With today’s political rhetoric, it’s
important to remind ourselves that our differences are to be celebrated. Through this
three-dimensional art project, we can see that we are unique individuals connected
by a common thread.”